Centrifugal casting machine



June 9, 1931. J. B. LADD CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet l v mvmrok BY I z: A TTORNE Y June 9, 1931. J. B. LADD CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1921 INIVENTOR MZLDCZZW-AQ ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. B. LADD Filed Nov. 5, 1921 CEN'IRIFUGAL CASTINGMACHINE June 9, 1931.

WITNESS:

1 4 L 4' ATTORNEY June 9, 1931. J. B. LADD CENTRIFUGAL CA STING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A TTORN E Y June 9, 1931. J. B.'LADD GENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1921 6 Sheets$heet 5 I INVENTOR W 13 49:20:.

Q ,9 A; ATTORNEY WI TNESS:

June 9, 1931. J. B. LADD CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1921 s sh ets-sheet 6 INVENTOR WITNESS:

A TTORNEY Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES B. LADD, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES CAST mom PIPE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, or NEW JERSEY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Application fi1ed.N'ovember 5, 1921. Serial No. 512,980.

My invention relates to centrifugal casting machines and particularly to machines intended and adapted for casting pipes and has for its object to provide a machine to and from which the molds can be rapidly charged and withdrawn which will accurately an automatically center the mold in the rotating apparatus which will conveniently provide for such tilting of the mold as may be thought advisable through certain parts of the casing operation and which will be generally Well adapted for all the necessary steps incident to the commercial application of the centrifugal casting principle.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connectionwith the drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine showing a mold in position ready for charging into the centrifugal apparatus al ditai;

being shown in section on the line Fig. 5.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a mold charged into the centrifugal ap-- paratus and the frames Hand A in tilted position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken as on approximately the line 4.4 of Fig. 3 but with the mold shown as charged into the centrifugal apparatus.

Figure 5 is a cross line 55 of Fig. 1.-

Figure 6 is an end view of the frame to which the centrifugal apparatus is attached, viewed as from. the right hand end of Fig. 3.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken as on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 with the carriage for supporting the bell end of the mold also shown in section.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken as on the section line 88 of Fig. 1.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a detail of the mechanism.

Figure 10 a cross sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11- is a sectional view of ,a detail of the apparatus.

sectional view on the Figure 12 a cross sectional View on the line 1212 of Fig. 4 and Figure 13 a sectional view on a larger scale of another detail of the apparatus.

A is a frame pivotally supported over a pit d as indicated at B; at each end of the frame are secured sprocket wheels A and A over which runs a sprocket chain A. The sprocket chain is actuated as shown through a gear system indicated at A by a motor indicated at A or, of course, in any other convenient Way. G, C, Figs. 2 and 3 are guides extending down into the pit in properly aligning the frame A. D is a cylinder connected with a source of fluid pressure having in it a piston connected to the piston rod D which in turn is connected throu h link D with a cross pin A extending from side to side of the frame A. E is a carriage running on the top of the frame A having a body portion E adapted to receive the bell end of the mold and an extension E which is attached to the sprocket chain A F is a second carriage also running on the top of the frame A carrying a roller ,F' adapted to support and align the mold and carrying a finger indicated at F the function of which will be hereafter described.

As shown, car F has a second outwardly depending finger F to which is attached a cord G which runs over a pulley G attached to the frame'A. and under a Weighted pulley indicated at G to a point of attachment G on the frame A. F is an arm extending from carriage F and contacting with an ad- Justable stop F The counterweight G and its connections with the car F is to keep the car 1n fixed position by holding its arm F in contact with the adjustable stop F H, H, are the side beams of the frame attached at their right hand ends to a head J pivotally supported as indicated at H. J, J and J are bearing frames also secured to the beams, H, H, and preferably made adjustable with said beams to adapt the apparatus for .use with molds of different lengths. The pivoted frame made up of the beams H and the bearing heads J, J and J is tilted on its pivot H by the action of a cylinder H", a piston H working in which actuates a rack H which rotates a gear wheel H rotating a shaft H which, through a crank arm lever'H, and links H H attached to the frame at H tilt and returns the frame to horizontal position. The frame is kept properly aligned by guides I, I, a cross piece I at the top through the plates 1 determining the horizontal position of the frame and a stop I determining how far it can be tilted from the horizontal. The actuating mechanism shown is such as to hold the frame firmly against the upper and lower stops as well as to move it quickly.

K is a rotating head supported by ball bearings K in the filling bearing J and having a conically walled opening K which acts both to center the end of the mold and for the entrance of the molten metal to the mold. L and Z are rotatable heads secured in ball bearing rings L and Z in the heads J and J and attached to the opposite ends of a sleeve M. The heads L and Z are recessed at L, Z and provided with lugs L and Z on which are pivotally supported the chuck levers O and G having gripping jaws O and connected by .links 6 with flanges N N formed on or near the outer ends of two sleeves N, N, which surround and are supported by the sleeve M, the chuck levers 0 being so counter-weighted that in rotation the centrifugal force acts to press the jaws inward. against the flask of the molds. Attached to the flanges N of the sleeves N are spring cases N carrying springs N which act upon the ends of rods N attached to the heads L and Z the springs acting to draw the sleeves N outward in direction to throw the chucks into gripping position.

Attached to the heads L and Z are brackets P best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, carrying pivot pins P P on which turn the hubs P of levers P P which levers extend upward in position to rest against and ride over the flanges N N of the sleeves N, N, when they rotate with the sleeve M. The left hand hub P has also attached to it a lever arm P which extends towards the left as shown in Figs. 4 and 10 in position to be engaged by the finger F of the car F. This left hand hub P has also extending downward from it the lever arm P by which it is connected through a link P with the lever P pivoted to a bracket P attached to the head J and in contact with the right hand flange N.

Supported on the head J is a motor Q having belt wheel Q rattached to it over which runs a belt Q, running also over a pulley Q, at the right hand end of the sleeve ished casting is to be removed from the rotating mechanism the frame H will be in horizontal position and the frame A in tilted position with the car E in position on the frame A to register with and engage the bell end of the flask of the mold when the frame A is elevated as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the car E will press and hold the car F in the position on the frame A indicated in Fig. 4 and when the frame A is tilted up to horizontal position the pin F on car F will engage and lift the lever P and through the levers and links described press the levers P and P inward against the flanges N and the sleeves N, pressing the sleeves N, N, toward each other and through the links O, O, turning the chucks 0 so that their gripping jaws 0 will release the flask R. The car E is then moved backward drawing the flask out of the rotating mechanism over the roller F of the car F, said car F remaining in fixed position by contact with adjustable stop F When the flask is withdrawn from the rotating mechanism it is removed and a new mold placed on the cars E and F as shown in Fig. 1 and the motor actuated chain A is set in operation in the reversed direction feeding the mold into the rotating mechanism until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. The frame A is then tilted downward with the result that the finger F of the car F moves downward, releasing its grip on the lever arm P permitting the springs N to move the sleeves N, N, outward and through the action of the links 0, O, forcing the chuck jaws 0 into contact with the flask of the mold. The chuck aws on moving together will obviously act as a self-centering device gripping and holding the flask in true central position irrespective of any contraction or expansion of the flask. The sleeve M rotated by the motor Q will then rotate the mold and the counterbalancing of the chuck members is such that the rotative movement tends to force the jaws still more tightly against the flask. The frame H is then tilted downward as shown in Fig. 2; the molten metal poured into the mold through the opening K in the rotatable head K and the frame H moved back to horizontal position.

When the cast metal is set in the mold the frame A is moved up to horizontal position with the effect of releasing the flask from the grip of the chucks so that it may be withdrawn as already described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a centrifugal casting machine a rotatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating said sleeve in combination with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and having gripping jaws movable in radial planes, said aws being adapted to center and grip a flask 2. In a centrifugal casting machine a rotatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating said sleevein combination with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adaptedto center and grip a flask, said chucks being so constructed that their gripping action is increased by centrifugal force when the sleeve is rotated.

3. In a centrifugal casting machine a rotatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating said sleeve, in combination with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adapted to center and grip a flask and springs actin on the chuck to cause them to center and grip an inserted flaskbefore the sleeve is rotated.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine a rotatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating saidsleeve, in combination with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and having grippin jaws movable in radial planes, said jaws being adapted to center and grip the flask with a yielding grip to permit the flask to expand when heated.

5. In a centrifugal casting machine 3'1'01 tatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating said sleeve in combination with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adapted to center and grip a flask with a yielding. grip, being so constructed that their gripping action is increased by centrifugal force when the sleeve is rotated.

6. In a centrifugal casting machine a rotatable sleeve adapted to receive a flask and means for rotating said sleeve in combina- :tion with self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adapted to center and grip a flask, said chucks being so constructed that their gripping action is increased by centrifugal force when the sleeve is rotated, and springs tending to actuate the chucks to engage a flask before the sleeve is rotated.

7. In a centrifugal casting machine a frame in combination with bears longitudinally adjustable on said frame, a rotatable sleeve revolvable in said bearings and adapted to receive a flask, means for rotating said sleeve and self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adapted to operate to center and grip a flask.

8. In a centrifugal casting machine a frame in combination with a bearing secured to one end and supporting a revolvable chuck adapted to receive and center one end of a flask, bearings longitudinally adjustable on said frame, a rotatable sleeve revolvable in said adjustable bearings and adapted to receive a flask, means for rotating said sleeve, and self centering chucks secured to the sleeve and adapted to center and grip a flask.

9. In a centrifugal casting machine a frame pivotally supported at one end so as to be free to tilt in only a vertical plane, in combination with guides for the frame, stops limiting the movements of the frame, means 'for tilting the frame and holding it against the stops, a rotatable sleeve su ported in bearings on the frame, means or rotating said sleeve, and chucks secured on the sleeve and adapted to center and grip a flask.

10. In a centrifugal casting machine a frame pivotally supported at one end so as to be free to tilt in only a vertical plane, in

combination with guides for the frame, stops limiting the movements of the frame, power mechanism including cranks and links for tilting the frame and holding it against the stops, a rotatable sleeve supported in bearings on the frame, means for rotating said sleeve,

. grip a flask.

12. In a centrifugal casting machine the combination with tiltable mechanism for axially receiving and rotating a flask, of

mechanism for inserting and withdrawing flasks therefrom consisting of a tiltable frame pivotally supported at one end and means supported on said frame for supporting a flask and feeding it to or from the rotating mechanism.

13. In a centrifugal casting machine the combination of a tiltable frame, a rotatable sleeve supported on said frame adapted to receive and rotate a flask, self centering chucks secured on said sleeve, springs normally holding said chucks in flask enga ing position, means for charging and (118C argmg flasks to and from the rotating mechanism and means actuated by said charging means for spacing the chucks as a flask is fed into the rotatable, sleeve and releasing them when the flask is fully inserted.

14. In a centrifugal casting machine the combination of a tiltable frame, a rotatable sleeve supported onsaid frame adapted to receive and rotate a flask, self centering chucks secured on said sleeve, springs normally holding said chucks in flask engaging position, a second tiltable frame, means supported on the second frame for charging and discharging flasks to and from the rotating mechanism and means supported on said second frame for opening the chucks as a flask is fed into the rotatable sleeve and releasing them when the movable end of the second frame is depressed.

15. In a centrifugal pipe casting machine, a rigid frame pivotally supported to move in a vertical plane, thecombination with vertical guides between which a free end of the frame passes, upper and lower stops secured to the guides limiting the angular motion of the frame between a position in which it is substantially horizontal and a position in which it is downwardly inclined to a'definite angle, means for supporting and rotating a mold secured to the up er side of the frame and means for rapidly sg'iifting the frame between its horizontal and inclined positions and holding it against the stops 'in the vertical guideways consisting of a motor and interconnecting mechanism whereby the frame is angularly shifted between its horizontal and inclinedpositions in positive synchronism with the movements of the motor and clamped against the stops at the end of each shifting movement.

JAMES B. LADD. 

